Mattress for invalids



Aug. 31, 192e.' f f 1,598,359

M. E, NORTHROF MATTRESS FOR INVVALIDS Filed July 25, 1925 NABELNDIQFYIYF.

AT-rmwcy.

Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITE srarss 1,598,359 PATENT v'FFECEa MABEL'E. NORTHROP, OF PASADENA,CALIFORNIA.

MATTRESS .FOR INVALIDS.

Application filed July 23, 1925. serial No. 45,446.

My invention pertains to sectional lmattresses with novel and usefulconstructive features, and adapted to afford eifective service in homeand hospital for bed-ridden invalids. l

Its objects are to provide a divided or sectional mattresswhich anattendant may lift, yturn or carry in its entirety; 'which may quicklyand easily be manipulatedA to disclose removable sect-ions for servicesrequired by the patient; -that by'removal of one small section willprovide a receptacle for a bedpan Without moving orcausing discomfort to4the patient.; that for lconvalescents will readily conformto adjustablebeds and allow bending transversely as desired.

' These objects, among others, are attained by the provision andassembling of mattress members or sections as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,l in which Figure l is a perspective view of theinvention assembled with its various members bound together to form acomplete whole.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention with the binding elementon one side thrown back to disclose the covered sections, one of thesame being removed and a bed-pan inserted in the resulting receptacle.Referring more particularly to the drawings:

l indicates the larger section of the mattress, approximating one-halfof the complete whole, or the head section.

2 indicates the foot section of the tress.

3 3 indicate identical small sections, which together with section 4constitute the middle transverse section of the complete whole.

5 indicates an apron or flap attached to the edge of head section l,being an extension of the ticking of l on either side of the same andadapted to cover small sections 3 3 and a and be hooked onto edge ofsection 2.

6 6 6 indicate hooks and eyes or snap mat- , hooks adapted to bind thesections together.

vbecome interchangeable.

ner edge of section 2 by means of hooks and eyes or ball and socketsnaps .6 6. ,Flaps 5 5 being provided on both sides of body section l, acomplete unit is thus formed. ln addition to binding flaps 5 5,extensions thereof laterally are provided, 5a 5, adapt ed to lap overthe edges of sections 3 3 and joined by removable snaps for the purposeof holding sections 3 3 4E more firmly in place. f

In av small mattress sections 3 3 and 4 may be exa-ct duplicates in sizeand thus But lin standard size mattresses sections 3 3.fare madeduplicate and section 4 considerably smaller.

.. Sections 3 3 are provided with other means of fixing in place,consisting of multiple straps 7 7, sewed at one end to corners ofsection 1 and provided with removable snaps to attach to corners ofsection 2. rlfhese belts pass underneath strap 7 a, which is sewed fastto the outer edges of sections 3 3.

In operation, as for use of a bed-pan, it is only necessary to loosensnaps 6 6 on Hap 5 and flaps 5a 5a, remove either section 3 3 or 4;(according to the position of the patient), and place the pan in thevacant space. Since section l is made of suihcient length to support thebody from head to buttocks, this operation of placing a pan by removingany small sect-ion can be quickly and easily done without disturbing thepatient in any degree. Should it be advisable to remove section 3 oneither side, then belts 7 7 must of course be detached and withdrawn.

In the drawings I have shown the hooks and eyes and snaps in visibleposition, but in practice the same are placed under ap 5 and between theabutting edges of section 2 and sections 3 3-4, to avoid irritation tothe patient.

A carefulr reading of the drawings will disclose the fact that in myinvention, although the mattress assembled may be handled as a unit asreadily as a one piece mattress, yet the transverse divisions make formuch more flexibility if it is desired to bend the mattresstransversely. This happens, for instance, in the case of a con valescentwhere it is desired to raise the patients head and body on an inclinedplane by means of what is commonly termed a chair rest. It is alsooftimes desirable to drop the foot section for manipulation of thelimbs, and in such case also the novel jf u j 1,598,359

joining of the sections constitutes a hinge by Which these modificationsmay be made.

It follows, therefore7 that my invention is of particular` value Whenused With adjustable hospital beds, land vI lia-ve `made the divisionsof my invention, to approximately correspond With the joints of a modern adjustable hospital bed....Where such adjustable beds are providedWith means of lowering a central section Jfor the use of a pan, forinstance, section 4 of my .mattress will be lowered lwith the section'of thebed7 thus forming a receptacle for the pan as though section flhad been removedas i-llustrat/ed.

{aving thus disclosed my invention and explained its operation, I claimasf new and desi-re to obtain Letters Patent of thel United States upon-1 A mattress of the character disclosed', divided transversely tocomp-rise abody section adapted to supporta human body from head tobuttocks; a comparatively narrow transverse foot section;three'approxinately identical smallei'sections, the! same collectivelyadapted to constitute a transverse mid- -`section; extensions ofthemattress ticking on both sides of said body section to con- :stituteflaps adapted to cover said mids'ecti'n above awndbelvv the same; meansfoiremovably attaching the free edges of said flaps to said footsection; said aps *being* provided.- with laterally extending shorterflaps adapted to jointly enclose the outer edges of'said-mid-.sect-ion'; means of vremovablyatt-aching the -free edges ofsaid 4lateral shorter flaps together;v multiple belts attached at oneend 'tothe corners of said body section and means for removably ,at-Ataehilng the .free ends thereof tof'the corners of said foot :section-gand a `vertical strap,

the ends thereopermanently attached to jt'h'e fouter edge'saof saidlsmall sections, adapted to- 'allowsaifd belts topass underneath-the.same lfor .f binding purposes, all substantially asjsetfforth. 1

j 'Xn-:Witness whereof I have signed `this -speciicationand=application.,y and executed 't'hisilpower cit-attorney July,1925.

- 'MBEL vE'NORTI-IROP.

